Improvement in thumb-supporters



J. S; BURDEN.

Thumb Supporter. I No". 110,426. Patented Dec. 217 ,1870;

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JAMES SANFORD BURDEN, OF BLOOMFIELD, ILLINOIS.

Letters Patent No. 110,426, dated December 27, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN THUMB-SUPPORTERS.

:The Schedule referred to-in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that-I, JAMES SANFORD Bonnnu, of Bloomsfield, in the Countyof Edgar-and State of Illinois, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Thumb-Supporter and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which willenable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming part'ofthis specification.

'.lhe object of this invention is to provide convenient and efiicientmeans for supporting and protecting the thumb of the hand in theopetation of binding grain; and

It consists in a sheath formed of wood or leather either in whole or inpart-or ofany other suitable material or mnterials,-. constructed so tofit and .be fastenedto thethnmb, and operate as will-be hereinal'termore fully described.

The accompanying drawing represents the thumbsupporter as when in use,the outline of .a right hand being shown, to the thumb of which thesupporter is fastened by straps passing from the supporter to and aroundthe wrist.

I A is a wooden socket or thimble, which the thumb enters, the endof thethumb being seen in dotte line.

B is a metallic ferrule or band around the open end of the thlmble A, towhich are pivoted two arms, 0,

(one on each side.) The other ends of these arms are jointed to the ringD.

E represents a short leather tube, by means of which the ring and thesocket A are connected.

The wooden socket and the leather receive the whole thumb, the end ofwhich is protected by the socket.

The rigid socket and the pliable connection with the jointed arms allowof all the flexibility required in the operation of binding grainj I Allwho have been employed in binding grain for any length of time havefound that the thumb becomes weakened and sore in tucking the bandaround the sheaf (or rather in tucking the end under the band.)

By this device the thumbjis supported from the hand by the arms 0and'metallic ring D, while it is protected by the socket and theleather.

F is a leather strap around the wrist, which is connected with the ringD by one or more straps, G. I

By means of these straps the supporter is secured on the thumb.

I do not confine myself to any particular material ot which to construct'the supporter; so long as the end socket is hard or rigid, and theconstruction otherwise such that the thumb is supported by the strengthof the hand, it may be made of any suitable material.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- I An improvedthumb-supporter, consisting of the socket A, band B, arms 0, ring D, andtube E, arranged substantially as specified.

J AMES SANFORD BORDEN.

Witnesses:

WIpLIAM H. Gamma. H. TANNER.

